Critical factors in socialisation of preschool children

October 2016

ACANSW members put children’s happiness first when looking at what makes learning environments effective for pre-schoolers.

Although all childcare and early learning providers regard happiness of children in an environment as most essential for improved learning, and socialisation, it is ACA members who place it first ahead of the relationship with the children. But without quality teaching that builds bridges between the children and their teacher, children are unlikely to be happy at "little school".

Notably, teacher quality wasn't seen as being tied to university degree level training and like several studies have found, is as frequently delivered by 2-year diploma trained teachers. The AOR survey findings are based on more than 650 online survey responses from the list of ACECQA NSW members.

The survey, which was carried out online during January and February 2016, placed staff child ratios close to the bottom of the priorities listed whether ACA NSW members or ACECQA members generally.

Rank order priority for factors that foster education and socialisation of preschool children.

Considerations when looking at effective education and socialisation of pre-schoolers.